diff --git a/python/CMakeLists.txt b/python/CMakeLists.txt
index 6d3ff60..4cb6d17 100644
--- a/python/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/python/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ target_include_directories(
 # List of python files to be copied to the build directory
 set(PYTHON_FILES
     aare/__init__.py
+    aare/_version.py
     aare/CtbRawFile.py
     aare/ClusterFinder.py
     aare/ClusterVector.py
diff --git a/python/aare/__init__.py b/python/aare/__init__.py
index f4bddda..3e4e64d 100644
--- a/python/aare/__init__.py
+++ b/python/aare/__init__.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ from ._aare import corner
 
 # from ._aare import ClusterFinderMT, ClusterCollector, ClusterFileSink, ClusterVector_i
 
+from ._version import __version__
 from .ClusterFinder import ClusterFinder, ClusterCollector, ClusterFinderMT, ClusterFileSink, ClusterFile
 from .ClusterVector import ClusterVector
 from .Cluster import Cluster
diff --git a/python/aare/_version.py b/python/aare/_version.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d8e2b01
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/aare/_version.py
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+# This file is used to get the version of the package from the VERSION file
+from importlib.metadata import PackageNotFoundError, version
+from pathlib import Path
+
+try:
+    __version__ = version('aare')
+except PackageNotFoundError:
+    __version__ = Path(__file__).parents[2].joinpath('VERSION').read_text().strip()
\ No newline at end of file